Olive Tree Named &#39;SEPOKA&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Olea europaea  L. olive tree variety named ‘SEPOKA’, particularly characterized as a small to medium-sized tree with controlled, strong vigor; suitable for intensive orchard growing with harvesting from the ground level with only minimal pruning required; resistance to  Spilocaea oleagina;  and production of elongated in shape mature fruit, with attractive, shiny appearance, light green-yellow colored skin covered with large whitish lenticels, and which are suitable for both green and black pickling (particularly desirable for green processing).

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Olea europaea

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘SEPOKA’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of an olive tree, botanically described as Olea europaea L. of the Oleaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘SEPOKA’.

The new Olea europaea ‘SEPOKA’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors, Shimon Lavee, Benjamin Avidan and Yair Manni, in Bet Dagan, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Olea europaea variety which is suitable for both green and black pickling, exhibits resistance to Spilocaea oleagina (peacock eye leaf disease), requires minimal pruning and has improved harvesting (due to lower likelihood of damage to mature fruit as result of harvesting).

The new Olea europaea ‘SEPOKA’ originated as a result of self pollination of the Olea europaea ‘KADESH’ (unpatented) in 1990 in the controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors in Bet Dagan, Israel. The new Olea europaea ‘SEPOKA’ was discovered from the progeny of the stated self-pollination in 1993 and selected in 1994 by the inventors in a controlled environment in Bet Dagan, Israel.

Asexual propagation of the new Olea europaea ‘SEPOKA’ by rooting of vegetative cuttings was first performed in the spring of 1995 in Bet Dagan, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new variety reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘SEPOKA’ which in combination distinguish this olive tree as a new and distinct variety:

1. small to medium-sized tree with strong vigor;

2. suitable for intensive orchard growing with harvesting from the ground level with only minimal pruning required;

3. resistance to Spilocaea oleagina; and

4. production of elongated in shape mature fruit, with attractive, shiny appearance, light green-yellow colored skin covered with large whitish lenticels, and which are suitable for both green and black pickling (particularly desirable for green processing).

In comparison to the unpatented, parental variety Olea europaea ‘KADESH’, the new Olea europaea ‘SEPOKA’ differs primarily in the traits listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female Parent New Variety ‘KADESH’ Trait ‘SEPOKA’ (unpatented) Trunk Diameter About 40 cm About 42 cm (measured at 50 cm above ground) Tree Habit Spreading Round Maximum About 3.0 m About 4.0 m Tree Height

Of the many commercial varieties known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to Olea europaea ‘SEPOKA’ is Olea europaea ‘BARNEA’ (unpatented). ‘SEPOKA’ differs from ‘BARNEA’ in the traits described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Trait Comparison of Trait of ‘SEPOKA’ to ‘BARNEA’ Vigor Less vigorous than ‘BARNEA’ Pruning Less need of pruning than ‘BARNEA’ Tree Fruit Density Higher plant density than ‘BARNEA’ Timing of Mature Fruit Fruit matures later than ‘BARNEA’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Olea europaea ‘SEPOKA’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘SEPOKA’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical 4-year old specimen of ‘SEPOKA’ exhibiting its overall appearance.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of typical unripe, fully grown fruit of ‘SEPOKA’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of typical ripe, fully grown fruit of ‘SEPOKA’ and it's flesh.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Olea europaea ‘SEPOKA’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the olive tree.

Unless otherwise stated, the detailed botanical description includes observations, measurements and values based on four year old ‘SEPOKA’ trees grown in the olive farm in Bet Dagan, Israel from 2004 to 2007. Quantitative data are expressed as an average of measurements taken from 10 trees of ‘SEPOKA’. The measurements of any individual tree, or any group of trees, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 1986 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under conditions of full sunlight in Bet Dagan, Israel.

All of the trees of ‘SEPOKA’, insofar as they have been observed, have been identical in all the characteristics described below.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Olea europaea. -   Parentage: Self pollination of Olea europaea ‘KADESH’ (unpatented) -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative cuttings. Taken from one-year old shoots of             juvenile trees (not yet fruit bearing) and which may be             produced all year round, or taken from new growth of mature             branches of fruit-bearing trees (beginning in spring             (April)) and as of July, the mature cuttings are semi wooden             and can be propagated throughout the year until February or             March.         -   Description.—Cuttings of about 12 cm to 15 cm in length,             bearing 1 to 2 pairs of top leaves are taken from mother             plants (any other plant material is removed). Freshly cut             vegetative cuttings are dipped in IBA hormone (2000 ppm) and             then planted in peat-perlite substrate (30% peat, 70%             perlite). In winter, the propagating bench is heated to             25° C. Mist irrigation is applied for 15 seconds every 20             minutes in the summer, and for 10 seconds every 30 minutes             in the winter. In the summer, 70% shading of the cuttings is             maintained to keep the temperature below 30° C. In the             winter, the temperature is kept above 15° C. Root initiation             can be observed after 4 weeks in the summer and 6 weeks in             the winter. Two to three weeks later, the cuttings can be             hardened. -   Growing conditions:     -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight.         -   Temperature.—Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is             7.2° C., and mean diurnal maximum temperature in July is             30.8° C.         -   Fertilization.—NPK fertilization (9:3:9.50 ppm) is             administered through the drip system.         -   Growth regulators.—No growth regulators are used.         -   Pruning or trimming requirements.—The olive tree of ‘SEPOKA’             as described is grown without training. When the trees are             freely grown, the size and the shape assumed by the plants             are not typical of Olea europaea L. species. -   Tree:     -   -   Age.—Observed trees were 4 years old.         -   Vigor.—Strong.         -   Habit and form.—Natural growth habit.         -   Crown density.—Dense.         -   Size at maturity.—Height (maximum): About 3.0 meters.             Diameter (Spread) of Canopy: About 3.0 meters.         -   Attitude.—Erect.         -   Abnormal leaves.—Present; falsiform.         -   Self-Compatibility.—Yes.         -   Trunk.—Diameter: (measured at 50 cm above ground): About 40             cm.         -   Branches.—Number per tree: About 3 to 4. Branch size: The             branch size depends upon the age of the branch observed.             Length: The length of 4-year old fruiting branch is up to 2             meters Diameter: The diameter of 4-year old fruiting branch             ranges from 10 cm to 15 cm. Pubescence: Moderate amount of             feathers Color of New Growth (fruiting shoot): Light grey             Internode length: Medium, about 22 mm to 30 mm.         -   Spur.—None. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—The arrangement of the leaves is typical of             Olea europaea L. species (two opposite leaves per each             node). -   Lamina:     -   -   Overall size.—Very small to small.         -   Length.—From 48 mm to 58 mm.         -   Width.—From 8 mm to 11 mm.         -   Ratio (length/width).—Medium.         -   Twisting.—Present.         -   Curvature of longitudinal axis of blade.—Flat.         -   Overall shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base shape.—Tapering.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf glossiness (both surfaces).—Present.         -   Color (mature).—Upper side: Green, RHS 137C Lower side:             Yellow-green, RHS 148D.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 mm to 7 mm. -   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming time.—Mid-April in Bet Dagan, Israel.         -   Ripening time.—Very late.         -   Structure.—Long and compact.         -   Branching.—Strong.         -   Axillary flowers.—Absent.         -   Flower.—Diameter: About 5 mm to 7 mm Color: White, RHS 155A.             Pollen color: Yellow, RHS 3A.         -   Buds.—Shape: Obovate. Size (just before opening): Small to             medium Color: Yellow-green, between RHS 145C and RHS 145D             Pubescence: Strong.         -   Petals.—Number per flower: Four.         -   Sepals.—Number per flower: Four.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 1 mm to 2 mm. -   Fruit (drupe): In the following description, Position A refers to     the position in which the fruit shows its largest asymmetry.     Position B can be reached from position A by turning 90 degrees     along the longitudinal axes in a way that presents the most     developed part of the fruit to the observer (according to UPOV     rules).     -   -   Maturity when described.—Ripe for eating.         -   Maturity (ripening) period after full bloom.—Very late.         -   Drupe detachment resistance.—Medium (251-500 g).         -   Stalk.—Length: 13 mm to 21 mm Thickness: About 1 mm Color:             Yellow-green, RHS 145C.         -   Stalk cavity.—Shape: Circular. Width: Narrow. Depth:             Shallow.         -   Overall size.—Medium.         -   Length.—About 22 mm to 26 mm.         -   Diameter.—About 13 mm to 15 mm.         -   Position of maximum diameter.—Central.         -   Overall shape.—Elongated.         -   Apical shape.—In Position A: Rounded. In Position B:             Rounded.         -   Base shape.—In Position A: Truncate. In Position B: Rounded.         -   Symmetry.—In Position A: Strongly asymmetric. In Position B:             Weakly asymmetric.         -   Transversal section shape.—Circular.         -   Colour.—Unripe (immature): Yellow-green, RHS 144A Ripe             (mature): Red-purple, RHS 60B Flesh (mature, freshly cut):             Beige, closest to orange-weight group, RHS 159A.         -   Conspicuous of marbling.—Strong.         -   Mucron.—Absent.         -   Mottles.—Size: Medium Color: Yellow-green, RHS 145C.         -   Pistil scar position.—Not central. -   Stone (endocarp):     -   -   Length.—About 17 mm to 21 mm.         -   Diameter.—About 7 mm to 8 mm.         -   Color (when dry).—Beige, closest to greyed-orange group, RHS             164D.         -   Overall Shape.—In Position A: Elongated. In Position B:             Elongated.         -   Distal shape.—In Position A: Pointed. In Position B:             Pointed.         -   Base shape.—In Position A: Pointed. In Position B: Truncate.         -   Symmetry.—In Position A: Weakly asymmetric. In Position B:             Symmetrical.         -   Shape of cross section.—Circular.         -   Position of largest cross section.—Central.         -   Grooving.—Weak.         -   Groove distribution at apex.—Present.         -   Groove distribution at base.—Irregular.         -   Number of grooves at the base.—More than 10.         -   Mucron.—Present.         -   Suture conspicuousness.—Absent or very weak. -   Resistance to abiotic factors:     -   -   Cold.—Medium-high. -   Resistance to parasites:     -   -   Spilocaea oleagina.—‘SEPOKA’ exhibits resistance.         -   Pseudomonas savastanoi.—‘SEPOKA’ has not been tested. 

1. A new and distinct Olea europaea L. olive tree variety named ‘SEPOKA’, as illustrated and described herein. 